Ban on fires in open areas

NO FIRES are permitted in the New England and Northern Slopes regions, with a total fire ban in place until midnight today.

The ban is in place due to forecast hot and windy conditions.

The New England covers the Armidale Dumaresq, Glen Innes Severn, Guyra, Tenterfield, Uralla and Walcha council areas, and the Northern Slopes is the Gunnedah, Gwydir, Inverell, Liverpool Plains and Tamworth Regional council areas.

These regions will also have a severe fire danger rating today; under those conditions, fires will be uncontrollable and fast moving and could threaten properties with little warning.

The Rural Fire Service said if a fire broke out in these conditions, residents should only stay with their home if it was well-prepared and they were able to actively defend it.

All unattended fires must be reported to triple-0 immediately.

On a day of total fire bans, there is a ban on any fires out in the open.